Range finder



May 20, 1941. I 0. K. CAZIN RANGE FINDER Filed Dec. 29, 1939 INVENTOR e0 1O -7 0270 /f. CAZl/V BY v TORNEY I Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RANGE FINDER Otto K. Cazin, Hoboken, N. J., versal Camera Corporation,

assignor to Uni- New York, N. Y.,

a. corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,510

'6 Claims. (Cl. 882.4)

simplicity of construction and which shall at the same time be highly efilcient.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a range finder constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating the manner of its use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device shown I in Fig, 1, but with one casing wall removed disclosing the interior construction;

Fig. 3 is a top plan elevational view of the device shown in Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, but including the casing wall shown as removed in Figs. 2 and 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 but illustrating a modified form of my invention.

In the drawing there is disclosed a range finder l constructed in accordance with this invention and which in this case is of the type adapted for use in connection with photographic or similar work. In this type of range finder two images of the object under observation are brought into superimposed relationship by mechanical means to automatically indicate or determine the range or distance.

The range finder l0 shown in the drawing comprises an elongated substantially rectangular hollow casing or frame, which may be die-cast in one piece, comprisingthe side walls l2, end walls l3, I4 and a bottom wall I5, leaving the top of the casing open. A removable wall l6 (see Fig. is provided which serves as a closure for the top of the casing, the said wall "5 being designed to rest upon an internal peripheral shoulder l'l, disposed adjacent the top edges of the side and end walls l2 and l3, l4 respectively, to shut out light and dust particles. The closure l6 may be detachably fastened in position by means of the screws l8, receivedin correspondingly threaded openings and 2D. The opening I9 is disposed in a plate portion 2| integral and flush with the shoulder l'l, while the opening is disposed in a plate 22 fixedly attached to a recessed shoulder portion of the end wall of the casing M.

The opposite walls H and I2 of the casingare provided with optically aligned apertures 24' and 25, which are adapted to serve as viewing apertures for the range finder. To facilitate such viewing, an eye piece 26 is provided on the wall l2, the said eye piece being preferably. integrally cast with the said wall |2. To prevent dust particles from entering the interior of the casing through the apertures 24 and 25,'suitable transparent closure members 30 housed in frames 21 and 28 are provided. Disposed in the path of the line of vision between the apertures 2t and 25 is a mirror member 3| fixedly attached by adhesive or other suitable means at the upper edge thereof to the plate 2|, and at opposite side edges to the walls H and I2. The mirror member 3| is of the type having a mirrored reflecting surface 3|a on one side thereof and which is at the same time transparent, so that an object may be viewed directly therethrough. It is noted that the mirror member 3| is disposed in a plane at an angle of approximately 45 to the.

line of vision. v

Mounted in the casing at the opposite end from that of the mirror 3| is a second mirror member 32, differing from the mirror member 3| by the fact that it has merely a reflecting surface 3211 on one side thereof and, is not transparent. The mirror 32 is angularly disposed in a direction which may be substantially parallel to that of the mirror 3|. An aperture 33 is provided in the wall similar to the aperture 24, protected by a transparent closure member 35 housed in aframe 34. It is thus seen that, when viewing an object through the eye piece 26, two images of the same object are seen, one image being seen directly through the transparent mirror 3| and the other image being received on the mirror surface 3|a by reflection from the mirror surface 32a.

In the type of range finder herein described, it is necessary to superimpose the image of the object seen directly through the apertures 24 and 23 and the image reflected. from the mirror 32. This is accomplished by rotating the mirror member 32 about a fixed vertical axis, as viewed from Fig. 5. The following mechanism is provided for eifecting such rotational movement.

Journalled between the bottom wall l and a mounting plate 38 is a pivot shaft 31. Fixed to the shaft 31 for rotation therewith is a cam member 38, having a portion 38a thereof projecting through an aperture 33 in the casing wall The plate 38 may be retained in position by means of a pair of screws 40a received in correspondingly threaded apertures in a pair of lugs 48, which may be integrafwith the walls l2. One end of the cam 38 is provided with a finger portion 331), which is adapted to contactively engage a finger portion 4|a of a lever 41, the said lever 4| being mounted on a rotatable pivot member 42 Journalled between the bottom casingwall l5 and a plate 22 fixedly attached at one end thereof to the inner shoulder of the end casing wall I4, by means of the screws 23.

It is thus seen from the above description that when the cam 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from Fig. 2, the finger 38b thereof will engage the finger 4|a of the lever 4|, to cause pivotal movement of the said lever 4| .in a clockwise direction. Mounted on the lever 4| for movement therewith is a mirror supporting member 43, which is substantially Z-shaped in cross-sectional contour, the lower portion 43a thereof being fixedly attached to the lever 4| by means of a set screw 44. The upper portion 43b of the member 43 is provided with a set screw 45, the bottom end of which is adapted .to contactively engage the pivot 42, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The mirror 32 is rigidly attached to the member 43 by any suitable attaching means, such as for example adhesive means.

It is thus seen that when the lever 4| is pivotally moved, the mirror 32 will be correspondingly rotated about the pivot 42, due to the fact that its supporting member .43 is rigidly fixed to the lever 4| by means of the set screws 44 and 44a.

To cause rotational movement of the cam 38, there is provided a disc 41, rotatably mounted in the wall I I. The disc 41 is provided on the inner surface thereof with a raised cam portion 48, which is designed to cooperate with the portion 38a of the cam 38, in such a manner that when the disc 41 is rotated in one direction, such as for example toward the left, as viewed from Fig. 2, the cam 38 will pivot about the axis 31 in a counter-clockwise direction, to cause movement of the lever 4| in a clockwise direction. I

For maintaining the fingers 38b and 4|a in constant engagement, there is provided a spring 50, one end of which is connected to the cam 38 and the opposite end of which is connected to the lever 4 I. It is noted that the spring normally urges the movement of the-1ever 4| in a counterclockwise direction, and the cam 38 also in a counter-clockwise direction, to cause the portion 38a thereof to remain in cooperative engagement with the cam 48 at all times. Due to the action of the spring 50, it is also noted that when the disc 41 is rotated in the opposite direction (to the right), the lever 4| will be 'moved in a counter-clockwise direction.

The amount of rotational movement of the disc 41 necessary to move the mirror about the pivot 42 to superimpose the two images will indicate the range or distance at which the object is from the range finder. The surface of the disc 41 may be provided with properly arranged indicia, representing distances in feet or in other denominations, so that when the disc 41 comes to rest in such position where the two images are superimposed, the particular mark on the disc 41 in align- 1133316 with a permanent marker member 8|,

mounted on the wall II, will indicate the range or distance.

The bottom casing wall-l5 may be provided with integral raised portions 10 and 1|, to space the lever 4| from the bottom wall I! and thus avoid friction.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided novel means for adjustably positioning the movable mirror 32 in two planes of ad- Justment, one the movement about the pivot 42 and the other in tilting direction with respect thereto. To adjustably move the mirror 32 about a vertical axis, or in other words about an axis parallel with the axis of the pivot 42, it is merely necessary to loosen the set screw 44 and to move the member 43 carrying the mirror 32 about the set screw 44a, asa pivot, until both images are superimposed or he in the same vertical plane, after which the set screw 44 may be tightened again. To permit such relative movement between the member 43 and the lever 4|, there is provided an over-sized aperture 52 in the portion 430 of the member 43, through which the shank of the set screw 44 passes.

To adjustably move the mirror 32 in a plane at right angles to the path of movement just mentioned, or about a horizontal axis, it is merely necessary to turn the set screw 45 in one direction or the other, until both images are superimposed or lie in the same horizontal plane. Due to the fact that the set screw 45 is in constant contact with the pivot 42, it is seen that if the set screw 43 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed from Fig. 5, the portion 43b of the member 43 will move in a direction away from the plate 22, to cause inward tilting of the mirror 32. If the set screw 43 is moved in a counterclockwise. direction, the mirror 32 will be caused to tilt in the opposite direction.

' screw 13.

Since the range finder is adapted for use in connection with a camera, there has been provided a mounting member 88 comprising a portion 60a designed to cooperate with a clip member fixed to the camera casing and a collar portion 60b relatively movably encircling a portion of the eye piece 26. To retain the member 83 on the eye piece 26, there is provided a retaining member 6| having a portion 6|a disposed adjacent the outer edge of the collar 60b and encircling the eye piece 26, the said member 6| being attached to the wall l2 by means of the screw 82. The member 60 is so designed that the range finder may be tiltedly moved so as to be used in either a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or in a vertical position. To retain the mounting 60 in either a horizontal or vertical position, there may be provided cooperating pairs of projections and detents 63 and 64 on the clip GI and on the collar 60b.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a range finder or like instrument wherein the measurement of range is effected by superimposing a pair of images of the same object and in which a rotatably mounted mirror is employed, means to adjustably move said mirror about a vertical axis to position both images in superimposed relationship in a' vertical plane, means to adjustably move said mirror about a horizontal axis to position both images in superimposed relationship in a horizontal plane, said last named means comprising a mirror supporting member, a threaded member mounted on said supporting member, and abutment means coincident with said vertical axis and cooperating with said threaded member whereby rotational movement thereof will tiltably move said mirror.

2. In a range finder or like instrument where-' in the measurement of range is effected by superimposing a pair of images of the same object and in which a'rotatably mounted mirror is employed, means to adjustably move said said mirror about a horizontal axis to position bothimages in superimposed relationship in a horizontal plane, said last named means comprising a mirror supporting member, a threaded member mounted on said supporting member, and abutment means on said shaft for said threaded member whereby rotational movement of said threaded member will tiltably move said mirror.

4. In a range finder or like instrument wherein the measurement of range is elfected by superimposing a pair of images of the same object and in which a mirror is mounted for rotation about a pivot shaft, means to adjustably maintain said mirror in a selected position for movement about a vertical axis, said selected position being such that both images will be in superimposed relationship in a vertical'plane, means to adjustably maintain said mirror in a selected position with respect to a horizontal axis and for movement about said vertical axis, said last named selected position being such that both images will -be in superimposed relationship in a horizontal plane, said last named means comprising a member threadedly received in said pivot shaft.

5. In a range finder or like instrument wherein the measurement of range is effected by superimposing a pair of images of the same object and in which a mirror is mounted for rotation about a pivot shaft, means to adjustably maintain said mirror in a selected position for movement about a vertical axis, said selected position being such that both images will be in superimposed relationship in a vertical plane,

means to adjustably maintain said mirror in a mirror about a vertical axis to position both v images in superimposed relationship in a vertical plane, means to adjustably move said mirror about a horizontal axis to position both images in superimposed relationship in a horizontal plane, said last named means comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a mirror supporting member, and a threaded member engaging with said shaft whereby the-said mirror supporting member is fixedly attached to the said shaft for rotation therewith after such adjustment.

3. In a range finder or like instrument wherein the measurement of range is effected by superimposing a pair of images of the same object and in which a rotatably mounted mirror is employed, means including a shaft to adjustably move said mirror about a vertical axis to position both images in superimposed relationship in a vertical plane, means to adjustably move selected position with respect to a horizontal axis and for movement about said vertical axis, said last named selected position being such that bothimages will be in superimposed relationship in a horizontal plane, said last named means comprising a. screw threaded member in axial. alignment and in constant engagement with said pivot-shaft. x

6. In a range finder or like instrument wherein a mirror is employed to reflect an image, a

frame, means including a pivot for rotatably mounting said frame, a movable support, means for mounting said mirror on said support, said support comprising a substantially Z-shaped mirror supporting member mounted on said frame for rotation about a vertical axis parallel to said pivot and held in adjusted position by a set screw passing through an oversized aperture in said member and'engaging said frame, and a set screw mounted in a leg of said member and cooperating with said pivot to adjust said mirror about a horizontal axis.

OTTO K. CAZDL 

